400 or 600 in my cab???

[blazedndazed]

Hey guys

I’m a cab grower currently running a 250hps, my flower cab is 32” wide, 26” deep and 36” tall, The A/C hood sits on top, its got a glass shield so it’s a fully sealed hood.

I figure my pots and run off trays take up about a 10” in height so I have about 12 cubic feet (rounded down) of actual grow space till the plants hit the glass shield. I don’t let them get that high though.

Temps will not be an issue as I have a RVK inline fan for ventilation, it keeps the 250 cool on its lowest setting (fan control) but I understand radiant heat could be a problem.


So should I go with a 400hps or 600hps, Would the 600 be overkill in my space?

I can get a 400 or 600 digital ballast and bulb for a similar price, but would a 600 just be wasting electricity in a space that small?

Any advice appreciated

 

[TryComb]

Hello I started with a 250w also, and my cab was similar in size to yours. I ended up building a bigger cab, 4' wide, 2' deep, by 6' tall and put a 400w in it. I am pretty sure I could fit a 600w in there so I say do the 400w. This is just my opnion so see what other people have to say. Take it easy.
TC

 

[blazedndazed]

Thanks trycomb, i was thinking the 400 would be best, id like a 600 but if its just wasting electricity then there is not much point

Stupid question for you as you did the upgrade - all bulb holders/reflectors are universal right? I would just need a ballast and bulb to switch over? Not a whole new A/C hood

 

[medmaker420]

I would go with a 600 and get a larger area to grow in, more yield. For that size I would do a 250 vert or a 400 vert.

You might be able to cram a 600 vert setup for decent yields but odds are you would have a ton of fun dealing with temps.

 

[geopolitical]

If you want to stick with the same size cabinet, go for the 400. 600 would take a lot of fan for a cabinet that size. If you want to upgrade both, go for 600, it's a great wattage.

 

[TryComb]

Blazedndazed- I honestly do not know the answer to that question. I would guess yes but you never know I upgraded everything and when I did my new setup came with all parts needed but I think you would be ok. Anyone else know??
TC

 

[FreezerBoy]

I think a 600 in that space is asking for grief.

 

[jordas]

I second freezers comment that a 600 is simply too large for that size space.

 

[Jnugg]

400w HID maximum.You're area is about the same as my C13 (30" w x 24" d or 5 square feet).A 400w in your area should give you about 69.5w per square foot and about 8665 lumens per square foot.

A 600w HID would just be overkill andyou would have one hell of a time keeping things cool with a 4" exhuast fan.

If you want to go with a 600w HID I'd say build a new cab that is about 8-9 square feet and upgrade to a 6" inline centrifugal rather then a 4".

 

[PrinSeshJasmine]

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[blazedndazed]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I kinda figured as much.

Id love to up upgrade my cab but iv not got the room to go any bigger.

Last question, Are the bulb holders a universal fitting E.G could you screw a 400 HPS bulb in the same holder/reflector I use for my 250. It’s a cool wing I think, Or will I need a new reflector as well?

Thanks again

 

[PrinSeshJasmine]

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[K Double O]

If you can cool a 600.... Go with it...

600 = 90k+ Lumens
400 = 50k+ Lumens

Its a real no brainer.... Almost double the lumens with only 200 more watts.

Just make sure you have adequate cooling and you will be just fine....

To be safe just get a 600 digi ballast.... That way you can decide if the 400 or the 600 would be best in terms of heat...

 

[blazedndazed]

Are you talking about the socket or the reflector? Does your reflector have a built in ballast?

The reflector should accomidate most any universal sockets, so I wouldn't worry there.

I would make sure that your socket is compatable with the new ballast, although many new ballast come with their own socket. So long as your ballast is rated for the bulb(ie don't put a 400 watt bulb to run on a 250 watt ballast), and the socket is comtatable to the ballast most any stand alone reflector will take them.

No its a remote ballast, and your answer explained perfectly.

Thanks again, K+ when i can.

 

[Outportgrower]

I have a hard time trying to keep a 400 watt cool with a 6" Vortex fan in a space 4x2.5x6.1 Best I can maintain is 85.2f at 50% humidity, and thats with the light around the 18" mark from the tops. The temp reading is at the top of the res, so I might be reading the radiant heat from the bulb too, but the crispy leaves are not nice.

Stick to a 400 and vent like crazy. Sooner or later I will hit that sweat spot for air exchange, but still have not made it yet.

Thats just me though, and you may find things different for you.

 

[blazedndazed]

If you can cool a 600.... Go with it...

600 = 90k+ Lumens
400 = 50k+ Lumens

Its a real no brainer.... Almost double the lumens with only 200 more watts.

Just make sure you have adequate cooling and you will be just fine....

To be safe just get a 600 digi ballast.... That way you can decide if the 400 or the 600 would be best in terms of heat...

Yeah i was going digi whatever I decide, over autumn/winter/spring the ambient temp of the room won’t get above 55-60 at the very most. Ambient at the moment is around 75 after 10 hours with the lights on in the cab it was at 83. The fan is on a very slow speed so it can be turned up. Can I adequately cool a 600?

Will the extra lumens be usable? how close can the plants sit under a 600?

Will the increase in yield be noticeable over the 400 in such a small space? The grow is purely for personal use, but if possible I want to get big enough yields so I can shut it down over the summer months (June, July, august)

 

[Bush Dr]

I wouldn't buy from that guy ... his history shows he'll sell anything and you have no warranty

I grew using 250's for yrs, your best bet is to switch to vertical as the amazing increase in heat will burn your crop .....

 

[PrinSeshJasmine]

.

 

[blazedndazed]

PrinSeshJasmine - thank you very much, that chart has explained it. The reflector Sits on top so the height from floor of the cab to the glass shield is 36", pots will take up around 10", so actual grow space is 26"

Using the chart you posted my plants will always be in the usable lumes range with a 400, I LST my plants so they stay around 6 inches from the glass shield. So 400 is perfect.

Thanks again

 

[PrinSeshJasmine]

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